A name for the Nutrition Training Center
The Nutritional
Training Center has been running for a week now. This has been an incredibly challenging week in figuring out all the ins and outs of
what it takes to run a home with mothers and their children. There
is a lot involved from detailed recording of what a child eats, to
determining the best coarse of care. The challenges go beyond that
into communicating the importance of such detailed planning in a way
that makes sense. Communication and education are also major
factors, as culture and norms are being challenged in many areas.
There are also medical concerns, social aspects, and spiritual
components.
Rosalinda was 9lbs when she entered our
home. We were told she had a heart condition, severe brain damage,
and severe malnutrition. We soon learned that she did not have any
sort of brain damage at all, but was in fact one of the most
intelligent babies her age we had ever seen. She knew what she
wanted and was stubborn as anything. She was beautiful, and perfect.
I loved her so much. We all did. She loved sitting on the table
with us after supper. She didn't have the energy to crawl, or lift
her head for long, but she wanted to move, so she would pull herself
along on her belly inch by inch into the next room. You always had
to be careful because this tiny baby would just be anywhere moving on
the floor following after an oblivious Olimpia who would scoot in
circles around her. Rosalinda could also be quite the rascal and
could challenge patience because she had so much personality.
Rosalinda was
very slow to gain any weight. She lived with us for a year as we got
her weight up some, but although she gained, it was not nearly
enough. The nutritionist we took her to seemed stumped and could
only suggest more and more formula until she drank 48oz a day.
Meanwhile her mom, who loved her deeply, kept up with every visit,
even though it meant hours on the bus, for her just to spend two
hours with her daughter.
Eventually the
decision was made that Rosalind was gaining too slowly and despite
our close work with the nutritionist and doctor, it would be best to
place her in a local malnutrition center. This center was well known
and highly regarded. However, shortly after we realized the
challenges of working with malnutrition centers. We would try and
visit but time after time the standards for visits would have change,
or we would even be turned away. She was still under our legal care,
yet tests would be done without ever notifying us, and we would face
hostility in trying to see her or figuring out why these test were
being done. Eventually her legal placement was changed from our home,
and visits slowly stopped.
Rosalinda was a beautiful little girl who could have lived. Her family loved her and wanted her, but didn't understand her care. We learned first hand how much separation there is between malnutrition centers and communication with families. Little education is given, and less training. This sets the child up for failure when they return home to an environment that is unsafe for them, and led to their malnutrition in the first place.
This home is
named in memory of a little girl who was precious in the sight of
God, her family, and us. I hope to honor God by loving and caring
for these children that they may one day have a life, and that their
mothers may not come to know the loss Rosalinda's mother knew.
Family
communication and empowerment was the main drive in this new
nutrition center. We could have taken more children in if we only
brought the kids. But the mothers who come here will leave with a
healthier child, and the empowerment to change their environment.
God is also using this home as a way to reach into the hearts of the
mothers who come.
My prayer is that every child who comes leaves healthier, and every mother who comes leaves knowing she is loved by God and us. May God be glorified by every life that enters Hogar Rosalinda.